MovieChat Forums > Grand Prix (1966) Discussion > Interesting unintended near miss in film...

Interesting unintended near miss in film. Anyone else catch this?

posted 19 years ago by LatamaCoricama
6 replies | jump to latest

I just finished watching the DVD and saw a rather close (unplanned) encounter. Shortly after the start of the second half, the British driver, Stoddard, is practicing for his first race since his accident and sets a very good lap time. He pulls off the race track and into the pit lane. The view is as the driver would see in the car, going about 50mph. Pause the DVD at this point and slo-mo frame by frame. Right after some pedestrians almost wander into the car's path a moving race car pulls up and it's front wheel and the camera car's front wheel come within inches of hitting, maybe even touched. Paused at the correct frame it's clear someone was really lucky that day.

[–] puterjunk 19 years ago

Hadn't noticed til you pointed it out - it was quite close. But by that point, the camera car was going quite a bit slower than 50mph - would have bent a rim or two, and possibly some suspension, but I don't think it would have caused any injuries at that speed . . .

Just MHO . . .

[–] UN_Jefferson 19 years ago

Pit safty wasn't thought much of in those days, scenes like that were routine. Dangerous of course, but routine.

[–] dfm1981 18 years ago

I noticed it last night as I watched the movie (TIVOed it Saturday night). It is a close call but even in today's racing there are near misses in the pits and on the track all of the time. It's just that now with in-car cameras everywhere we see them.

[–] BKing21 17 years ago

I know my answer is a little late but I finally got the DVD and just watched the movie.

And YES, I noticed that (myself). I rewinded immediately because I couldn't believe how close it really was. Wow!

[–] lacn 17 years ago

not a lot in movies is unintended, and just because it seems like it is - you cant really claim it you dont know

[–] hollyvolley 17 years ago

I saw it right off and went back over it a couple of times- I think the wheels actually touch- and it's probably not that unusual-

But not much in comparison. I'm from Indianapolis, and have seen many a race there- and mostly back in this period.

We usually sat in the turns with a clear view from behind of the cars clearing the corners and entering the straight- especially at quals- some drivers- AJ Foyt in his heydey in particular, would let the centifugal force push the cars right up next to the wall- and sometimes you literally couldn't see any space between the wall and the wall with binoculars- all at about 180 mph!

so the drivers in general know exactly where that point is- they would still be a fool to touch in the pit lane like that though

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